Sweeteners

Artificial Sweeteners cause cancer in animal studies

"It has been demonstrated, for the first time, that aspartame causes
a dose related, statistically significant increase in lymphomas and
leukemia in females (rats) at dose levels very near those to which
humans can be exposed. Moreover, it can hardly be overlooked that at
the lowest exposure.... There was a 62% increase in lymphomas and
leukemia." 1

Aspartame (sold as "Equal" or "NutraSweet") is a sweetener made up
of two amino acids. It was thought to be the "perfect sweetener",
but questions have arisen about the cancer tests performed on it. In
the last three months of 1986, there were more than 3000 complaints
made to the FDA concerning Aspartame. Complaints included seizures,
headaches, mental confusion and neuralgic impairment.

Refined Sugars

The average American presently eats more than 120 pounds of sugar
per year. Looking at it another way, that is equal to approximately
41 teaspoons per day. Refined sugars, of which table sugar is the
best known, comprise more than one-eighth of the average American
diet. Much of this sugar is "hidden" in foods that are baked,
canned, frozen, or pre-packaged. For example, 12 ounces of Coca-Cola
contains almost 10 teaspoons of sugar. One-half cup of sherbet has 7
teaspoons. A slice of apple pie has 5 teaspoons. One-half cup of
canned peaches 4 teaspoons, and one-half cup of canned pork and
beans has 2-1/2 teaspoons.

The National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Surgeon General have
advised the public to cut down on sugar consumption. It is good to
be aware of the "hidden" sources of refined sugar in your diet. Read
labels, and see if the total amount of sugar you are getting is
higher than you think. Refined sugar is present if the ingredients
on the label include sugar, raw sugar, brown sugar, sucrose,
dextrose, glucose, maltose, corn sweetener, corn syrup, or high
fructose corn syrup. For the health dangers of "High Fructose Corn
Syrup" see our
videos link.

While sugar consumption is not the cause of all ills, there is
evidence that it can be a contributing factor in diabetes,
hypoglycemia, arteriosclerosis, hyperactivity, hyperinsulinism and
elevated cholesterol, triglyceride and uric acid. Food allergy to
sugar has been linked to a wide variety of mental and physical
symptoms. Sugar consumption leads to an increased susceptibility to
infection. Sugar provides calories and "fills you up" without
providing vitamins, minerals, fiber or protein.

An interesting experiment you might perform is to eliminate sugar
from your diet for two weeks and see if you feel any different.
Although at first it may seem difficult to avoid sugar, you will
quickly become used to alternative ways to sweeten foods, and will
find that naturally sweet foods like fruits, taste sweeter to you.

Unless you are allergic or otherwise unable to tolerate them, the
following whole foods can be safely used as sweeteners: raisins,
dates, other dried fruits, fruit puree, or fruit conserve. You can
also use fruit juice or soak dried fruits in water overnight and use
the soaking water as a sweetener.

"Natural" Sweeteners"

If you feel you must use added sweeteners in your foods, I would
highly recommend using STEVIA, which has a slower onset and longer
duration than that of
sugar. Stevia has a negligible effect on
blood glucose
In any case, always use sweeteners that are less "refined" and that contain at least some nutrients. This would include stevia, lao han extract, coconut sugar, unsulphured blackstrap molasses, yacon syrup, raw honey, carob powder, rice bran syrup, fig concentrate, and pure, natural maple syrup (without corn syrup added). These other sweeteners contain sugars that can affect blood sugar levels and certain organs in the same way that white sugar can. The body converts them to glucose (blood sugar) at varying rates. Some people will be able to handle them better than others. It may take some experimenting to see which ones you can use, and in what amounts, without developing symptoms.

Remember, too, that any amount you can cut down on sweeteners, and
especially the refined sugars, will benefit you. If you do sometimes
feel it "worth the price" to have something sweet, then enjoy what
you are eating, but continue to cut down and to switch to the whole
food sweeteners such as dried fruits.